GL Homes to open Marina Bay development off Treeline

Nestled between Treeline Avenue and I-75, Marina Bay is the newest development in Lee County by GL Homes.

Patty Campbell, division president for west coast operations for GL Homes, said the company had been keeping close watch on market conditions, permits and sales.

“We see the demand is back,” she said. “Fort Myers is bringing jobs. The airport is bringing in people. It is a gem down here. We know we can be successful.”

Campbell said the company’s building operations for the west coast (including Marina Bay) will be larger than those on the east coast in 2015.

Aside from Marina Bay in Lee County — next door to Botanica Lakes, GL’s only other Lee County site — GL Homes has building operations in Palm Beach, Collier and Hillsborough counties.

GL Homes also has developments in Collier County (Saturnia Lakes, Marbella Isles and Riverstone) and in Broward, Palm Beach and Indian Lakes counties. The company started as a local builder in 1976 in Palm Beach County and currently has more than 63,000 people living in GL homes throughout Florida.

GL’s Marina Bay will be sectioned with homesites varying from 45-, 56- and 62-foot lots. The development’s plans call for a selection of 806 single-family one- and two-story homes and twin-villas designs from the mid-$200,000s to the $400,000s, spanning 1,428 to more than 4,000 square feet with two to six bedrooms, up to five bathrooms, and two- to three-car garages.

The twin villas are attached, sharing a single wall, and are perfect for those contemplating a second home.

“They are ideal for snowbirds, singles or retirees,” Campbell said.
She added that buyers will find prices at gated and guarded Marina Bay very favorable on homes similar to those at GL Homes’ Collier County sites.

“Lee County is still a steal,” she said.

Campbell said the types of homes that will be constructed in Marina Bay will be in the Mediterranean style.

“There will be several floor plans available,” she said. “There are a lot of new plans.”

Campbell said many of the models that will be available can be seen at the Riverstone development on Immokalee Road in Collier County.

Additionally, she said, some of the models available will be similar to Botanica Lakes but there will be more that are not available at the next-door GL Homes community.

Katrina Allison, a resident at Botanica Lakes for the past seven years, said the GL Homes development has been a great place to live.

“We bought because we heard good things about the builder on the east coast,” she said. Allison added she and her husband, Mike, visited GL Homes operations on the east coast of Florida before they purchased their home.

“We’re happy with our purchase,” she said, adding that they have children and the development provides for homeowners of all types, retirees to those with a brood.

“The amenities package is what we were looking for,” she added.

The new development will also have what Campbell termed as “magnificent” amenities.

“There will be a resort-style swimming pool with a tot lot and an aqua tots play area, tennis courts, pickleball courts and a fire pit,” she said.

“It is a very appealing property,” she said.

Campbell said model homes will be open in April with sales to start in the first quarter of 2015.